This is part of a national rally to send a message to our politicians that we do not want them spending our $1 billion on a destructive mine that will cook the climate and wreck the Reef.

We will have big banners and signs at the iconic Lamberts beach Lookout and a drone will capture the images. We will then move from the Lookout to Lamberts Beach and will then take the rally into town (you will need your cars!) and hang the banners over the Forgan Smith Bridge.

This needs to be big!! so wear red, bring hat and water, signs if you have some, and get ready to rally and feel the people power as we fight for a viable future.

Meet at the Lamberts Beach Lookout by 9.00am on 7th October and we'll move on from there. There is a small carpark , but plenty of off road parking at the bottom of the hill.

An Inconvenient Sequel is the riveting and rousing follow-up to Al Gore's follow up to An Inconvenient Truth which brought climate change into the heart of popular culture. It shows just how close we are to a real energy revolution.

The documentary addresses the progress made to tackle the problem of climate change and Al Gore's global efforts to persuade governmental leaders to invest in renewable energy, culminating in the landmark signing of 2016's Paris Climate Agreement.

Saving the world isn’t an easy task. However, even the smallest of actions can have a big collective impact. Recently, the United Nations released an article ‘A Lazy Person's Guide to Saving the World’ which serves as a splendid reminder that each and every one of us has the power to make change and contribute to the more efficient world we wish to see. A drop in an ocean but an ocean made of drops nonetheless. The message is clear - change begins with you!

From the comfort of your couch to the comfy cushions at a cafe, below we have included some easy breezy tips and tricks of how you can lighten your ecological footprint in your everyday life. Who knows, maybe you will improve you own well-being — as well as our planet along the way.

1. Save electricity

Saving electricity saves resources and saves you money. So turn off the light switches, let your hair and clothes dry naturally, turn off your appliances at the switch when you are done. 90 per cent of the energy used when running your washing machine is used to heat water. Choosing to wash only a full load of clothes with cold water is moving in the direction of being more ecologically effective.

2. Use less water

Here in North Queensland, freshwater isn’t as abundant as our actions may translate, so we need to do what we can to save as much of it as we can. Take short showers, turn the tap off when you are brushing your teeth and don’t bother rinsing the dishes before putting them into the dishwasher.

3. Move away from plastic

We can’t wait for governments to #banthebag, we need to take responsibility to reduce plastic consumption into our own hands. Plastic debris ends up in our waterways & in the bellies of our marine life. Mackay neighbours the most beautiful and diverse reef system in the world, the Great Barrier Reef, and we need to do what we can to protect it. Buy minimally packaged foods. Carry your own water bottle, coffee cup and cutlery and of course remember to take your own bags to the supermarket.

4. Shop local

Shopping local is thinking global. Supporting local business and growers helps keep local people employed and helps prevent trucks and planes driving far distances. Did you know that every Wednesday morning Mackay’s Greater Whitsunday Market exhibits a variety of only local products and produce?

A community survey released today by the Mackay Conservation Group has uncovered overwhelming opposition in Mackay to the Adani Carmichael mine and the special treatment it is receiving from the government.

Almost 80 per cent of Mackay people do not support the $1 billion taxpayer funded loan to Adani. Even greater numbers (86 per cent) oppose the Queensland government giving Adani access to free, unlimited water. Eighty-five per cent of people were also opposed to the royalty free period that the State government has granted to Adani.

You're invited to a free lecture by Alice Hungerford, author of UpRiver, the story of the Franklin River blockade that pushed Australia's environmental movement to the centre of political decision making.

UpRiver reveals the untold stories of over 60 activists who came to the Franklin and Gordon rivers in 1982, and stayed to non-violently defend one of the truly wild places of this earth.

Share the experiences of people who came and stayed in the harsh wilds of South-West Tasmania for almost nine months — from the smoky campfires, lentil stew, endless rain and over 1200 arrests, to a change in the Federal Government, a High Court battle and bulldozers finally leaving the rugged Tasmanian wilderness — UpRiver weaves together the stories of photos and songs collected from activists from one of the largest coordinated direct actions in Australia's history.

CommBank won't fund Adani!

You asked for it and CommBank listened! Late today we learned that the Commonwealth Bank has now joined with our other big banks and ruled out funding the polluting Adani coal mine.

All four of Australia's Big Banks will not be funding Adani. It's time that our government takes the hint and stops giving hand outs to a company and project that is financially in-viable!

The Commonwealth Bank has indicated it will not lend money to Adani’s proposed Carmichael coalmine, leaving the project without financing from any of Australia’s big four banks. A spokesman from Commonwealth Bank said the bank is “not among the banks who have been, or will be, asked to consider this financing”.

UpRiver - the story of the Franklin Blockade

You're invited to a free lecture by Alice Hungerford, author of UpRiver, the story of the Franklin River blockade that pushed Australia's environmental movement to the centre of political decision making.

UpRiver reveals the untold stories of over 60 activists who came to the Franklin and Gordon rivers in 1982, and stayed to non-violently defend one of the truly wild places of this earth.

Share the experiences of people who came and stayed in the harsh wilds of South-West Tasmania for almost nine months — from the smoky campfires, lentil stew, endless rain and over 1200 arrests, to a change in the Federal Government, a High Court battle and bulldozers finally leaving the rugged Tasmanian wilderness — UpRiver weaves together the stories of photos and songs collected from activists from one of the largest coordinated direct actions in Australia's history.

Parliament is inviting individuals and organisations to make a submission to help strengthen and support their inquiry into the current and future impacts of climate change on our built environment.

As temperatures rise to levels unprecedented in human existence, it is questionable if Australia’s current housing, building and infrastructure will withstand the predicted climatic changes and the extreme weather events that it will entail.

From the recent devastation of cyclone Debbie, causing approximately $2 billion of damages to private and public infrastructure, to the life shattering impacts of the 2008 floods leaving nearly two thousand residents and businesses inundated with water, the Mackay community is definitely no stranger to the costly wrath of Mother Nature.

With various climatic scenarios predicted, you can help support the resilience of the region by making a submission. Sharing your opinions and proposals will greatly assist the Mackay community, and beyond, to be more adaptable and manageable in the face of an inevitably changing future.

All across Australia people are working to stop the Carmichael mega-mine going ahead. If it is built it will be the biggest, most destructive, coal project Australia has ever seen. The mine will damage the Great Barrier Reef and the Great Artesian Basin and destroy the largest remaining habitat for the Black Throated Finch.

Presented by Queensland born actor Michael Caton, Guarding the Galilee is a powerful 30 minute documentary that focuses on the battle to stop the Adani’s Carmichael project, providing significant insights into why the never ending claims of “JOBS JOBS JOBS” doesn’t paint the whole picture.

There will be a Q & A session and community discussion taking place after the film so we encourage everyone in the community to come along.

Nearly 37 hectares of Lindeman Island National Park will be revoked if Whitehorse Developments plans are approved by the Queensland and Australian Governments.

A draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was released this afternoon on the Queensland Government website detailing plans to use the national park to create upmarket accommodation to be owned by the Chinese company.

The EIS says that 9.473 hectares on the western coastline is proposed for a commercial camping facility or "glamping" structures. The proposed marina development has been dropped from the original development plan.

If you lined up 1,200 bulldozers side by side and drove them from Brisbane to Cairns then that's equivalent to the area of trees cleared, or planned to be cleared, in Queensland since 2013.

In September Mackay Conservation Group will be holding a rally to show we care about wildlife and want new tree clearing laws in our state.

Over the past four years one million hectares of woodland and forest has been bulldozed or the landholder has notified an intention to clear. We must end this practice that is destroying forests, killing wildlife, damaging the atmosphere and increasing runoff into streams and rivers that flow to the Great Barrier Reef. We need to show politicians that people in our region care as much about tree clearing as other Queenslanders do.

To make this rally a success we'll need people to take on some of the the big and small tasks. The first one is planning the event. If you would like to help protect our wildlife, please come along to our first organising meeting at the Mackay Environment Centre, 156 Wood St Mackay on Tuesday 18 July at 6.30pm.